Warren school board OKs partnership

Warren Township High School board members Tuesday night gave their official blessing to becoming partners with a foundation that'll give students an opportunity at financial assistance to attend pricey private colleges.

Gurnee-based Warren District 121 is now the fourth high school -- all in Lake County -- linked to the Schuler Family Foundation. Warren board members, by a 6-0 vote, approved their end of an agreement with Schuler, which announced its decision to work with the district last week.

Warren joins Waukegan High School, Round Lake High School and St. Martin de Porres High School in Waukegan on the Schuler roster.

Private investor Jack Schuler, a former Abbott Laboratories executive who started the foundation in 2001, said Warren is the first school selected that already is successful in sending students to college. However, he said he expects there will be enough teenagers who'll benefit from the organization.

"We're embarking on what we hope is a very long-term relationship with you folks," Schuler said.

To qualify for the Schuler program, students must earn a minimum 3.0 grade-point average after their freshman year of high school and be involved in leadership or community service activities. They need to craft a personal development plan as sophomores and participate in a five-day leadership summer camp in Wisconsin.

Pupils who meet the standards receive $20,000 over four years to help pay costs to attend private colleges with fewer than 10,000 undergraduates. Harvard and Brown universities are among the schools with Schuler scholars.

Schuler said small class size is one reason the foundation is focused on helping the students get into elite private colleges. And whether it's right or wrong, he said, employers often take note of where a job candidate graduated from college.

Minority pupils, in particular, benefit from foundation's efforts when they earn a diploma at an elite private college Schuler said.

"We think these kids need a little extra boost when they get out of school," he said.